"Life experience counts. Service has been a large part of my life and I want to continue to provide my wisdom and knowledge to help better Anchorage. I am a person who guides and directs others more than follows. I have the resume, drive, and a vision for my community."
Occupation: Business manager; retired U.S. Army
Neighborhood: Eastwood estates/Baxter Bog
Education: Associates; near B.A. completion in political science/justice
Experience: Assembly member 2005-2008, community council president, commissioner Public Facilities Advisory Commission, director Alaska Moose Federation, operations director Alaska Youth Challenge Program for at-risk youths, operating homeland security business
Web site: www.pbauer.com
Not in my official bio: My father with no family connections reared me as an only child. In 2004, researching my roots, I found over 200 family members, living in one 13th century European village, the U.S. and 17 members in Anchorage. Most family members were unaware of each other before being united for the first time; I organized the first in a series of Bauer family reunions in Anchorage, the East Coast and Europe.
Question 1: Do you agree or disagree with the direction Dan Sullivan is taking the city, and why?
Answer: I have known Dan for several years. We have chatted about the city many times over drinks discussing common ideas for the prosperity of Anchorage. I support his direction but not his drive. He had a weak start as mayor, depending solely on the Assembly and not using the power of his administration. In two years, property taxes have not been substantially reduced. Begich accomplished more for our city with a moderately conservative Assembly.
Question 2: If you were in charge, would you: A. Support a zero increase in property taxes next year, even if it meant major cuts to parks and recreation, libraries, police and fire departments? B. Support a modest 1 percent to 2 percent tax increase that would still require cuts? C. Raise taxes more and cut less? D. Tax to the cap and cut as little as possible?
Answer: This question has us assuming there are no other avenues to cut in the budget or increase revenues. Besides that premise, I support a more concerted effort to reduce property taxes and instill new investments supporting small business ownership in Anchorage. Public safety is first; it has a role in local government. It must be managed effectively to meet the needs of the community. Everything else is secondary.
Question 3: Do you support lowering property taxes by starting a sales tax?
Answer: Any new tax will require leadership and continued research bringing all proposals before the public. One proposal is to eliminate all property tax with a 3 percent to 4 percent sales (consumption) tax. A sales tax of that magnitude will match the current revenues and encompass visitors. Additionally, a study into a real estate excise tax on the profits of a sale in lieu of annual property taxes might be addressed.
Question 4: Are there other revenue sources you would push to lower property taxes? If so, what are your ideas?
Answer: To address the need for various city improvements and stimulate building new infrastructure, I would push for a 1 percent local option sales tax referendum with a time limitation applying those resources toward specific projects. A citywide board of volunteers selects the projects. Mandate every city department to manage the sale of old equipment online, establish fee-for-service initiatives, alternative financing mechanisms and private-public partnerships such as grants for expensive projects.
Question 5: In this year's budget, a projected revenue shortfall caused the city to close a library, cut back pools, cancel a Mountain View bus route and eliminate police officer positions. However, the city expects a multimillion-dollar surplus left over from 2010. What should it do with the surplus?
Answer: My job as an Assembly member is to yield and act on the mayor's administration plan. I anticipate the economic crisis to escalate in Anchorage as we continue to feel the ripple effects from the Lower 48. I do not have the confidence nor do I see the leadership from state or local officials to resolve our fiscal crisis. To gain consumer confidence, my plan is to refund the surplus back to the taxpayers immediately.
Question 6: Anchorage has four branch libraries. Other similar U.S. communities have an average of nine, says the city librarian. Do we have enough branches?
Answer: Alaska has the highest cyber-connected network in the union. Essentially, books are not a major source of research and entertainment. My concern is not the number of libraries but their ability to service Anchorage's future children and disenfranchised adults with efficient and modernized technology.
Mike Gutierrez
"I have worked hard over the last three years to represent the men and women of East Anchorage. I intend to continue fighting for greater public safety, better schools, and new business opportunities on the east side."
Occupation: Program coordinator
Neighborhood: Wonder Park
Education: B.S. from Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind., 1995; M.A from Ball State University, Muncie, Ind., 1998
Experience: Three years as a member of the Anchorage Assembly; 2 1/2 years as a utility analyst for the Assembly; eight years as a member of the Russian Jack Community Council, where I served as that council's rep to the Federation of Community Councils for two years; two years as legislative aide to state Sen. Johnny Ellis.
Web site: www.gutierrezforassembly.com
Not in my official bio: I have spent several years as an advocacy volunteer for the American Cancer Society and have presented trainings on direct action organizing to cancer society volunteers from across the western United States.
Question 1: Do you agree or disagree with the direction Dan Sullivan is taking the city, and why?
Answer: In general I disagree. In several areas I have been in complete agreement with the mayor -- bringing the municipality more into the information age, trying to find solutions to the homeless problem. But the mayor has also made a conscious effort to reduce services that are essential to the quality of life here. He has intentionally cut police and fire when he has not needed to. Instead of trying to find solutions to problems facing the city, he has chosen to bash city employees and blame them for all the world's ills.
Question 2: If you were in charge, would you: A. Support a zero increase in property taxes next year, even if it meant major cuts to parks and recreation, libraries, police and fire departments? B. Support a modest 1 percent to 2 percent tax increase that would still require cuts? C. Raise taxes more and cut less? D. Tax to the cap and cut as little as possible?
Answer: E. Raise enough revenue through a variety of sources to fully fund municipal services, and not a penny more.
Question 3: Do you support lowering property taxes by starting a sales tax?
Answer: Yes, but only if it were a dollar-for-dollar replacement of property taxes, not a new pot of money. Also, I would not support any sales tax proposal that did not exempt basics like groceries and prescription medications.
Question 4: Are there other revenue sources you would push to lower property taxes? If so, what are your ideas?
Answer: I have advocated for a change in state law that would allow for an increase in residential property tax exemptions. The state is mulling an increase from $20,000 to $50,000. I also feel strongly that the state needs to do more to fund mandates it passes on to local governments.
Question 5: In this year's budget, a projected revenue shortfall caused the city to close a library, cut back pools, cancel a Mountain View bus route and eliminate police officer positions. However, the city expects a multimillion-dollar surplus left over from 2010. What should it do with the surplus?
Answer: The surplus is a direct result of cuts in services provided to the citizens of this city. Some of these services (police, fire and public transportation) should be restored to some degree. Absent that, the surplus should remain in fund balance (savings) in case of emergency.
Question 6: Anchorage has four branch libraries. Other similar U.S. communities have an average of nine, says the city librarian. Do we have enough branches?
Answer: No, we do not. Yes, most communities our size have far better library systems than we do. This is true in spite of the fact that Anchorage has far greater library use among the public than most other communities.
Adam Trombley
"I'm running to ensure that the municipality brings spending in line with revenue, finds efficiencies within government and focuses its efforts on maintaining a quality police and fire department. It's also important that East Anchorage have a long-term district plan."
Occupation: Account manager
Neighborhood: Scenic Foothills
Education: B.A English
Experience: Chairman of the Municipal Budget Commission, vice chair of the East Side District Plan Committee.
Web site: www.trombleyforassembly.com
Not in my official bio: I'm an avid runner.
Question 1: Do you agree or disagree with the direction Dan Sullivan is taking the city, and why?
Answer: I agree with the reductions in spending and holding the line on property taxes. However, East Anchorage is in need of a district plan, which has recently been vetoed by the mayor.
Question 2: If you were in charge, would you: A. Support a zero increase in property taxes next year, even if it meant major cuts to parks and recreation, libraries, police and fire departments? B. Support a modest 1 percent to 2 percent tax increase that would still require cuts? C. Raise taxes more and cut less? D. Tax to the cap and cut as little as possible?
Answer: B.
Question 3: Do you support lowering property taxes by starting a sales tax?
Answer: That is a decision the voters of Anchorage should decide.
Question 4: Are there other revenue sources you would push to lower property taxes? If so, what are your ideas?
Answer: As a city we must start moving towards a "fee for service" system. If an individual wants the service, then he/she should be responsible for covering the majority of the cost.
Question 5: In this year's budget, a projected revenue shortfall caused the city to close a library, cut back pools, cancel a Mountain View bus route and eliminate police officer positions. However, the city expects a multimillion-dollar surplus left over from 2010. What should it do with the surplus?
Answer: Fund a police academy, put it into reserves to help pay for future civil legal damages from the incident with Officer Rollins or help retire the city's $1.3 billion bond debt.
Question 6: Anchorage has four branch libraries. Other similar U.S. communities have an average of nine, says the city librarian. Do we have enough branches?
Answer: I need to research this issue more to see the cost and benefit and if we have the revenue -- if the conclusion is more branches.
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